No Water No Beer Speaker Series: Fish, People, & Power

Join us for a "Deep Dive" on fisheries management in the Chesapeake Bay, with focus on the impact of blue catfish on striped bass and blue crab populations.

March 25, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

An evening of networking and exploration with Veronica . . .

Introduced in the 1970s, invasive blue catfish have rapidly expanded across Chesapeake Bay due to their high adaptability and appetite, impacting the socio-ecological systems of native striped bass and blue crab fisheries. An integrated analysis of trophic and human dimensions is necessary to inform adaptive management. This study employs socio-ecological network analysis to examine fisheries management networks in the Patapsco, York, and Rappahannock River watersheds. By integrating ecological and stakeholder networks into a multi-level model, this research explores cross-scale interdependencies among invasive and native fishery, highlights the influence of blue catfish, and underscores the need for adaptive management strategies to promote sustainable fisheries governance across the Chesapeake Bay. Leveraging open-source resources, this methodology is both cost-effective and easily replicable, making it a valuable tool for natural resource management.  Web-scraped data were analyzed using centrality metrics such as Degree, Eigenvector, and Betweenness. Social network maps for blue catfish, striped bass, and blue crab management were compared across watersheds to assess influential, bridging, and excluded actors. Ecological networks were constructed from diet data to identify prey overlap and network connections.

The evening will also feature Checkerspot Brewing Co. beer sourced with Baltimore's delicious tap water.  

What better way to learn about fisheries management, than with this awesome brew crafted with Baltimore's best tap water???